Dattatrey Temple, Girnar Hill, Junagadh
Temple of God Dattatrey is situated at the highest peak of Girnar mountain. Devotee has to climb down around 850 steps from Gorakhnath Shikhar and climb 700 steps on left side entrance to reach Dattatry peak, it comes at 9,999 steps and 3295 feet at height.Guru Dattatreya performed rigiours penance on the peak of the Girnar hill. Thus this temple is highly important place for follower of Lord Dattatreya and must visit once during their life span.
It is believed that Dattatrey tempel was build by king Yaksha Malla in 1427.Lord Dattatrey is incarnation of Bhrama,Vishnu and Shiva and also in the temple there is a small ancient shivling down behind the Dattatreya idol on a stone. On the top of the peak there is a small temple on the Padukas of Guru Dattatray and ancient bell where devotee worship and completes the Tirth Yatra of Girnar Hill.
Legend of Lord Dattatreya
Lord Shree Dattatreya is regarded as an aspect of the divine Trinity or Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh; Creator, Preserver and Destroyer respectively. Thus creative, preservative and disintegrating powers are visible in the personality of Lord Dattatreya. The name Dattatreya is derived from two Sanskrit words, Datta means given and Atreya refers to Rishi Atri father of Lord Datta. Lord Dattatreya is considered to be an avatar of Lord and honored as the Adi-Guru and teacher of Yoga. He is regarded as the Guru of Gurus and he is specially worshipped on Brihaspativara which is the sacred Thursday. Thursday is supposed to be the Guru day and we worship the great Guru Lord Dattatreya on every Thursday.
Guru Dattatrey is the son of rishi Atri & mother Anusaya. Anusaya was a Pativrata, an incarnation of chastity who worshiped and considered her husband as God. Her fame and glory spread far and wide, all over the three worlds. Guru Dattatreya gave Ashtanga Yoga to the world thousands of years ago. First one is Yama, - non-killing, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, and non-receiving of any gifts.
Lord Shree Datta is believed to be the author of the Tripura Rahasya, a treatise on Advaita Vedanta. Avadhuta Gita is a work compiled from the words uttered by Dattatreya. References of Lord Dattatrey can be found in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, thus Lord Datt is most ancient deity
